March 24 (UPI) — The medical director overseeing a pair of Florida dependancy treatment services was convicted in an addiction treatment fraud scheme, the Justice Department claimed Thursday.
Jose Santeiro, 72, was component of a scheme that unlawfully billed around $112 million worth of dependancy treatment services that have been in no way rendered, or were medically unwanted, the Justice Office stated in a launch.
Santeiro, who is a health care provider, was convicted of conspiracy to dedicate healthcare fraud and wire fraud, and eight counts of healthcare fraud.
He faces up to 20 several years in prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 many years in prison for just about every healthcare fraud depend.
“Santeiro’s conviction demonstrates the unwavering dedication of the Office of Justice’s Sober Residences Initiative to safeguarding sufferers and prosecuting fraudulent compound abuse treatment amenities,” reported Assistant Legal professional Normal Kenneth A. Well mannered Jr.
“Alternatively than ‘do no harm,’ Santeiro, driven by greed, utilized his medical license to do unconscionable damage to susceptible individuals having difficulties with addiction. The office will relentlessly pursue these scenarios to be certain clients get the treatment they deserve.”
The plan noticed two brothers shuffle “a core team of patients” in between the Compass Detox inpatient facility and WAR Community, a associated outpatient treatment system “in a cycle of admissions and re-admissions to fraudulently monthly bill for as a great deal as attainable,” in accordance to the Justice Office.
Jonathan Markovich, 37, and his brother, Daniel Markovich, 33, were both convicted in November in the Southern District of Florida as section of the identical plan.
The adult men also billed for treatment classes that had been not offered or that clients did not go to, as effectively as extreme and unneeded urinalysis drug checks.
Jonathan Markovich was handed 188 months in jail, although Daniel Markovich been given a 97-month jail sentence.
The adult males prayed on vulnerable sufferers, frequently providing them illegal kickbacks via recruiters in an try to retain them at the facilities for as long as attainable, attempting to increase the fraudulent treatment.
“Fraudulent billing techniques like this deprive vulnerable sufferers of required medical care and divert precious methods from America’s healthcare program,” said FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada.
“Present day conviction is a obvious warning to anyone engaged in health care fraud that theFBI, alongside one another with our companions, will aggressively pursue you and maintain you accountable for your actions.”
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